Gorillaz, 'On Melancholy Hill' -- New Song

Turns out we have Bono to thank for an early release of the new Gorillaz single, 'On Melancholy Hill.'

Just last week it was announced that U2 would have to pull out of performing on June 25 at Glastonbury, citing Bono's emergency back surgery as the reason. To fill U2's shoes will be the Gorillaz, who will now be the opening night headliner for the 40th anniversary of the Festival; and to accompany the news, creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett have decided to drop the second single from their March 9 release, 'Plastic Beach.'

On oddly-uplifting number, 'On Melancholy Hill' reflects on both a fate of apocalyptic proportions and the consoling love of a special someone you could spend that fate with. This duality plays out well in the composition; never dipping below uptempo, the melody has a childish charm to it -- like an '80s sitcom theme that you find innocently fun, but a bit haunting if you really listen to it. The song may be the closest to date Albarn has come to his Blur songwriting on a Gorillaz album, one that fictional band member Murdoc Niccals referred to in the liner notes as, "a genuine pop moment" of the album.

'On Melancholy Hill' is available now on Gorillaz latest release, 'Plastic Beach,' and the band has announced a global video premiere for the new single, slated for June 15. You can listen to the new single on AOL Radio's New Alternative First station.